Europe | The Francis and Giorgia show

The Pope and Italy’s prime minister tussle over Donald Trump

Giorgia Meloni was the only European leader at the inauguration

Pope Francis in Rome, Italy
Not happyPhotograph: Reuters
|ROME

Conflicting SIGNALS are reaching the new American administration from Rome. And some carry a whiff of incense. While Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, was preparing to fly to Washington to schmooze President Donald Trump and his chums, a leader on the other side of the Tiber was communicating stark disapproval of their plans.

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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “The Francis and Giorgia show”

From the January 25th 2025 edition

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